, 1887-07-14
The Union Pacific Investigating
Commission
Still Pumping Witnesses at Den
YER.
A Lot of Irrelevant Testimony
Taken Yesterday.

DENVER, July lO.-AHlOnH tne VIII
nesses examined to-day by the Pacific
railway investigation commission were
j. X. Choote, superintendent Of the
Colorado division of the Union Pacific,
j. B. Felker, formerly state railroad
commissioner, one of the local attor-
neys for the Union Pacific, Edmund
II. Smith, editor of the Denver Even
ing Telegram, and local merchants.
Mr.. Choate was examined as to SER
vices rendered by him in connection
with railroad legislation. He testified
that he talked with most all the men,
bers of the legislature who were hos
tile to the railroad during the session
of last winter He had endeavored to
ascertain the cause of their
hostility in each case and
wherever they had special
grievances endeavored to remove the
cause OF hostility. He had talks and
informal meetings with other railroad
men and had canvassed with
them the position of the different
members. He denied with emphasis
having ever offered any money or 9TH
er consideration to members for the
purposes of influencing votes, but ad-
mitted he had given passes to all
members which all the roads in Col
orudo did ho said, and on apple alton
of friendly members he had given pas
ses to their friends. This he had not
done for members who were hostile to
the railroads.
e. II. Smith editor
of the Denver Evening
Telegram, when being questioned as to
whether the railroads or the people
had won in the last state election said
the republican party had won; that
the people had had struggle with the
railroads and the people had got on
top. AS this seemed to imply that the
Democratic party was the railroads s
party Gov. Pattison, with some warmth,
pressed the witness to tell what meas
ure hostile to the railroads had been
passed at that legislature. The wit
ness finally answered that the railroads
had not got hurt much, as no hostile
measure had been passed.
Jno. Martin, a merchant of Denver
testified as to discriminating rates and
expressed the conviction that the rail
roads should be made to pay its debt
to the government when the debt ma
tured.
Robert III. Rubrige, secretary OF the
Marshall Coal Mining Co., of Colo
RADIO, testified as regards rebates al
lowed his company by the Union Pacific
from November, 1855, to April, 1887
The amount aggregated $22 900. The
agreement to give rebate was made, Inc
said, in consideration of the withdraw
al by the Marshall company of law
suit it had against the Union Pacific
Mason B. Carpenter, member o
the state senate, said he did not know
OF any money being used by the rail
road or others in the senatorial fight
He did not believe dollar had beer
paid to influence the votes.
J. B. Felker testified that the facili
ties for business afforded by the Unior
Pacific company were about the sam,
as were afforded by the other roads.
State Senator Campbell, in reply tt
inquiries by Commissioner Littler
testified as to the action OF the legisla
tive committee that investigated tn,
Teller-Hill contest for the United
States senate. He said the committee
was made up OF as good men as were il
Colorado, and were nota whitewashinl
committee. He said nothing OF any
corruption fund.
United States Senator Henry M
Teller rising and addressing the com
mission said he did not desire to ap
pear to be man with grievance but
Mr.. N. p. Hill had openly stated that
the railroad companies had put uI
money to secure his (Teller's) election
That charge included the Union Pa
cific railroad company and it was 0
serious charge, but it was such @
charge as he, Mr.. Teller, could moi
present to the United States senate
as that body had decided IN the case
of Senator Payne, OF Ohio, that in
order that such question might bt
within the line Of investigation by tn,
senate, the senator elect must b,
charged with having knowledge o